Unified optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems (DASs) for supporting small cell communications deployment from multiple small cell service providers, and related devices and methods

ABSTRACT

Unified optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems (DASs) for supporting small cell communications deployment from multiple small cell service providers are disclosed. The unified optical fiber-based DASs disclosed herein are configured to receive multiple small cell communications from different small cell service providers to be deployed over optical fiber to small cells in the DAS. In this manner, the same DAS architecture can be employed to distribute different small cell communications from different small cell service providers to small cells. Use of optical fiber for delivering small cell communications can reduce the risk of having to deploy new cabling if bandwidth needs for future small cell communication services exceeds conductive wiring capabilities. Optical fiber cabling can also allow for higher distance cable runs to the small cells due to the lower loss of optical fiber, which can provide for enhanced centralization services.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/IL14/050907 filed on Oct. 20, 2014 which claims the benefit ofpriority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/896,341, filed on Oct.28, 2013, both applications being incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

BACKGROUND

The technology of the present disclosure relates generally todistributed antenna systems (DASs) for distributing communications toremote areas each forming a coverage area, and more particularly tooptical fiber-based DASs configured to distribute small cellcommunications from multiple small cell service providers.

A cellular communications system can be provided that includes cellularbase stations configured to communicate with cellular client devices toprovide cellular communications services. These cellular base stationsare typically co-located with cellular antennas configured to distributetransmitted wireless cellular communications signals from a cellularbase station to cellular client devices residing within the wirelessrange of a cellular antenna. The cellular antennas are also configuredto receive transmitted wireless cellular communications signals fromcellular client devices to the cellular base station for transmissionover a cellular network.

It may be desired to distribute cellular communications servicesremotely, such as in a building or other facility, to provide clientsaccess to such cellular communications services within the building orfacility. One approach to distributing cellular communications servicesin a building or facility involves use of radio frequency (RF) antennacoverage areas, also referred to as “antenna coverage areas.” Theantenna coverage areas can have a radius in the range from a few metersup to twenty meters, as an example. Combining a number of access pointdevices creates an array of antenna coverage areas. Because the antennacoverage areas each cover small areas, there are typically only a fewusers (clients) per antenna coverage area. This allows for minimizingthe amount of RF bandwidth shared among the wireless system users.

As an example, FIG. 1 illustrates distribution of cellularcommunications services to remote coverage areas 10 of a DAS 12. In thisregard, the remote coverage areas 10 are created by and centered onremote antenna units 14 connected to a head-end equipment 16 (e.g., ahead-end controller or head-end unit). The head-end equipment 16 iscommunicatively coupled to a cellular base station (not shown). Theremote antenna units 14 receive cellular communications services fromthe head-end equipment 16 over a communications medium 18 to bedistributed in their coverage area 10. Each remote antenna unit 14 mayalso include an RF transmitter/receiver and an antenna 20 operablyconnected to the RF transmitter/receiver to wirelessly distribute thecellular communication services to cellular client devices 22 within thecoverage area 10. The size of a given coverage area 10 is determined bythe amount of RF power transmitted by the remote antenna unit 14, thereceiver sensitivity, antenna gain and the RF environment, as well as bythe RF transmitter/receiver sensitivity of the cellular client device22. Cellular client devices 22 usually have a fixed RF receiversensitivity, so that the above-mentioned properties of the remoteantenna unit 14 mainly determine the size of the remote coverage areas10.

With ever-increasing demands for high-speed data communication services,it may also be desired to distribute small cell communications withinthe same building or other facility in which the DAS 12 is deployed.Small cell communications units have a digital backhaul. Small cells mayinclude cellular service small cells, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) AccessPoints, 60 GHz radio devices, digital DAS and remote radio heads (RRHs),location radio nodes, wireless readers, and radio nodes for specificapplications, like Wireless Medical Telemetry System (WMTS) for example.Fifteen (15) to forty (40) small cells may be required to be deployed inthe building for each small cell service. Thus, a building may be firstserved by a cellular distributed antenna system, like the DAS 12 in FIG.1, for example. Other equipment and small cells may then be deployed inthe building to support other small cell communications services.However, the capacity of the building to support the additionalequipment and small cells may be limited.

SUMMARY

Embodiments disclosed herein include unified optical fiber-baseddistributed antenna systems (DASs) for supporting small cellcommunications deployment from multiple small cell service providers.Related devices and methods are also disclosed. A small cell is a smallsize radio node with a digital backhaul. Non-limiting examples includecellular service small cells, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) access points,extremely high frequency (EFH) radio devices (e.g., 30+ GHz), digitalDAS and remote radio heads (RRHs), location radio nodes, wirelessreaders, and other radio nodes for specific applications. The unifiedoptical fiber-based DASs disclosed herein are configured to receivemultiple small cell communications from different small cell serviceproviders to be deployed over optical fiber to small cells in the DAS.In this manner, the same DAS architecture can be employed to distributedifferent small cell communications from different small cell serviceproviders to a plurality of small cells. Use of optical fiber fordelivering small cell communications to the small cells can reduce therisk of having to deploy new cabling if bandwidth needs for future smallcell communication services exceeds conductive wiring capabilities.Optical fiber cabling can also allow for higher distance cable runs tothe small cells due to the lower loss of optical fiber, which canprovide for enhanced centralization of the small cell communicationsinterfaces in the DAS for ease in installations and reconfigurations ofsmall cell service providers and centralized monitoring of small cellcommunications. The unified optical fiber-based DAS may also beconfigured to support other communications, including but not limited tocommunications that are distributed through analog DAS equipment.

In this regard, certain embodiments of the disclosure relate to aunified optical fiber-based DAS that includes a communications controlequipment as a central receiving point to receive different small cellcommunications from different small cell communications serviceproviders to be deployed. The communications control equipment includesa plurality of small cell communications interfaces each coupled to adedicated small cell communications switch for each small cellcommunications. Each small cell communications switch is configured toreceive and route the received small cell communications to small cellsdeployed in the DAS. The small cell communications are routed through amedia converter to be converted to optical signals to be provided asoptical small cell communications over dedicated optical fibers to thesmall cells. Each small cell being communicatively coupled to a smallcell communications via a dedicated optical fiber keeps small cellcommunications between different small cell server providers separate tonot reduce bandwidth and facilitate providing enhanced datacommunications security between different small cells, as non-limitingexamples. A data processor is provided in the communications controlequipment for each small cell communications interface. The dataprocessors are each configured to analyze data communicated over thesmall cell communications interface and insert or modify the datadepending on the desired application. The data processors may also becommunicatively coupled to an application server to provide centralizedservices affecting all small cell communications, including providingsmall cell communications service to other networks.

In one embodiment, an optical fiber-based DAS for supporting small cellcommunications from different small cell service providers comprises aplurality of edge devices each configured to receive electricalcommunications from a network. The plurality of edge devices comprise atleast one first small cell configured to receive a first electricalsmall cell communications, and at least one second small cell configuredto receive a second electrical small cell communications different fromthe first electrical small cell communications. The optical fiber-basedDAS also comprises a communications control equipment. Thecommunications control equipment comprises a plurality of communicationsinterfaces each configured to receive electrical communications. Theplurality of communications interfaces comprise at least one first smallcell communications interface configured to receive a first small cellcommunications from a first small cell service provider, and at leastone second small cell communications interface configured to receive asecond small cell communications from a second small cell serviceprovider. The communications control equipment also comprises aplurality of switches. The plurality of switches comprise a plurality ofcommunications output ports and a plurality of communications inputports, the plurality of communications input ports each configured to becoupled to a communications interface among the plurality ofcommunications interfaces. Also, each of the plurality of switches isconfigured to route an electrical communications among a plurality ofelectrical communications received on a communications input port amongthe plurality of communications input ports to at least twocommunications output ports among the plurality of communications outputports. The optical-fiber based DAS also comprises a plurality of mediaconverters. The plurality of media converters comprises a first mediaconverter. The first media converter is configured to receive a firstelectrical communications from at least one communications output portof the plurality of switches. The first media converter is alsoconfigured to convert the received first electrical communications to afirst optical communications, the first optical communicationscomprising a first optical small cell communications. The first mediaconverter is also configured to route the first optical small cellcommunications over at least one first dedicated optical fiber among aplurality of optical fibers to the at least one first small cell. Theplurality of media converters also comprises a second media converter.The second media converter is configured to receive a second electricalcommunications from a second communications output port of the pluralityof switches. The second media converter is also configured to convertthe received second electrical communications to a second opticalcommunications comprising a second optical small cell communications,and to route the second optical small cell communications over at leastone second dedicated optical fiber among a plurality of optical fibersto the at least one second small cell.

An additional embodiment relates to a method of distributing small cellcommunications from different small cell service providers in an opticalfiber-based DAS. The method comprises receiving a plurality ofelectrical communications over a plurality of communications interfacesfrom a plurality of communications service providers, comprisingreceiving a first small cell communications from a first small cellservice provider on at least one first small cell communicationsinterface, and receiving a second small cell communications from asecond small cell service provider on at least one second small cellcommunications interface, the second small cell communications differentfrom the first small cell communications. The method also comprisesproviding each of the plurality of electrical communications to at leastone communications port in at least one switch among a plurality ofswitches, each switch among the plurality of switches coupled to atleast one communications interface among the plurality of communicationsinterfaces. The method also comprises routing each of the plurality ofelectrical communications received on a plurality of communicationsinput ports to at least two communications output ports among aplurality of communications output ports in the plurality of switches.The method also comprises receiving in a plurality of media converters,the plurality of electrical communications from the plurality ofcommunications output ports of the plurality of switches. The methodalso comprises converting in the plurality of media converters, thereceived plurality of electrical communications to a plurality ofoptical communications, the plurality of optical communicationscomprising a first optical small cell communications and a secondoptical small cell communications. The method also comprises routing thefirst optical small cell communications over at least one firstdedicated optical fiber among a plurality of optical fibers to at leastone first small cell. The method also comprises routing the secondoptical small cell communications over at least one second dedicatedoptical fiber among the plurality of optical fibers to at least onesecond small cell.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detaileddescription which follows, and in part, will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art from the description or recognized bypracticing the embodiments as described in the written description andclaims hereof, as well as the appended drawings.

The foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare merely exemplary, and are intended to provide an overview orframework to understand the nature and character of the claims. Thedrawings are included to provide a further understanding and areincorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary distributed antenna system(DAS) capable of distributing wireless communications to client devices;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary unified opticalfiber-based DAS for supporting small cell communications deployment frommultiple small cell service providers over separate optical fibers;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary unified opticalfiber-based DAS for supporting small cell communications deployment frommultiple small cell service providers over separate optical fibers toone or more area distributers each configured to interface multiplesmall cells to the DAS;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary area distributer providedin the unified optical fiber-based DAS in FIG. 3 for interfacingmultiple small cells to the DAS;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process fordistributing different small cell communications from multiple smallcell service providers over separate optical fibers in the unifiedoptical fiber-based DAS in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary unified opticalfiber-based DAS for supporting small cell communications deployment frommultiple small cell service providers over separate optical fibersdirectly to the small cells via edge device interfaces;

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary edge device interfaceinterfacing a small cell to a small cell communications in the unifiedoptical fiber-based DAS in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram of the exemplary edge device interface inFIG. 7A interfacing a small cell to a small cell communications in theDAS in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram illustrating concurrent use of a networkfor a unified optical fiber-based DAS for supporting small cellcommunications deployment from multiple small cell service providersover separate optical fibers and a traditional switch-based local areanetwork (LAN);

FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram illustrating concurrent use of a networkfor a unified optical fiber-based DAS for supporting small cellcommunications deployment from multiple small cell service providersover separate optical fibers and a passive optical network (PON); and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a generalized representation of anexemplary controller that can be included in any communications controlequipment, application server, data processor, media converter, areadistributor, small cell, and/or any other components of the distributedantenna systems disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments will be further clarified by the following examples.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary unified opticalfiber-based DAS 24 for supporting small cell communications deploymentfrom multiple small cell service providers over separate optical fibers.As will be discussed in more detail below, the unified opticalfiber-based DAS 24 is configured to receive multiple small cellcommunications from different small cell service providers to bedeployed over optical fiber to small cells in the DAS. In this manner,the same DAS architecture can be employed to distribute different smallcell communications from different small cell service providers to aplurality of small cells. Use of optical fiber for delivering small cellcommunications to the small cells can reduce the risk of having todeploy new cabling if bandwidth needs for future small cellcommunication services exceeds conductive wiring capabilities. Opticalfiber cabling can also allow for higher distance cable runs to the smallcells due to the lower loss of optical fiber, which can provide forenhanced centralization of the small cell communications interfaces inthe DAS for ease in installations and reconfigurations of small cellservice providers and centralized monitoring of small cellcommunications. The unified optical fiber-based DAS 24 may also beconfigured to support other communications, including but not limited tocommunications distributed through analog DAS equipment.

In this regard, the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24 includescommunications control equipment 26 configured to distribute a pluralityof small cell communications 28(1)-28(M) from a plurality of small cellservice providers 30(1)-30(M), where M is equal to the number of smallcell service providers. A small cell communications is a communicationsfor a small cell. A small cell is a small size radio node with a digitalbackhaul. Non-limiting examples of small cells include cellular servicesmall cells, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) access points, extremely highfrequency (EFH) radio devices (e.g., 30+ GHz), digital DAS and remoteradio heads (RRHs), location radio nodes, wireless readers, and otherradio nodes for specific applications. All or a subset of the small cellcommunications 28(1)-28(M) provided to the communications controlequipment 26 may include the same small cell communications or differentsmall cell communications.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, to facilitate receiving theplurality of small cell communications 28(1)-28(M) from the small cellservice providers 30(1)-30(M), the communications control equipment 26in the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24 includes a plurality ofcommunications interfaces 32(1)-32(M). The communications interfaces32(1)-32(M) are configured to receive the respective small cellcommunications 28(1)-28(M) from the respective small cell serviceproviders 30(1)-30(M). The communications control equipment 26 isconfigured to distribute the small cell communications 28(1)-28(M) toany of a designated plurality of small cell edge devices 34(1)-34(P)(also referred to herein as “small cells 34(1)-34(P)”) where P is thenumber of small cell edge devices. Small cells are radio units with adigital backhaul that usually include an integrated antenna. Small cellsmay be installed on the wall or on the ceiling serving the area in theirproximity. The communications control equipment 26 also includes aplurality of communications output ports 36(1)-36(P) coupled to theplurality of small cells 34(1)-34(P). The communications controlequipment 26 is configured to route the small cell communications28(1)-28(M) through designated or configured communications output ports36(1)-36(P) to be distributed to the small cells 34(1)-34(P). The smallcells 34(1)-34(P) may be provided in remote locations in a building orother facility. Subsets of the small cells 34(1)-34(P) may also begrouped together to be provided in the same area, such as shown in FIG.2. In FIG. 2, small cells 34(1)-34(5) are provided in a first area37(1), and small cells 34(6)-34(P) are provided in another area 37(Q),where Q is the number of areas.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, as an example, the communicationscontrol equipment 26 routes a received first small cell communications28(1) from small cell service provider 30(1) to a first small cell 34(1)and a received second small cell communications 28(2) from small cellservice provider 30(2) to another small cell 34(2). The first and secondsmall cell communications 28(1), 28(2) are from different small cellservice providers 30(1), 30(2) in this example. However, small cellcommunications 28(1), 28(2) may be the same small cell communicationservices or different small cell communication services. For example,the first small cell communications 28(1) may be RRH communicationservices routed to the RRH small cell 34(5), while the second small cellcommunications 28(2) may be WiFi communication services routed to theWiFi access point 34(4). In this manner, the same communications controlequipment 26 can be employed to distribute small cell communications 28from different small cell service providers 30 to different small cells34. For example, providing a common communications control equipment 26can simplify overall management and access to different locations insidea building or other facility hosting the unified optical fiber-based DAS24.

The unified optical fiber-based DAS 24 in FIG. 2 also employs the use ofoptical fiber 38 for delivering the small cell communications28(1)-28(M) to the small cells 34(1)-34(P). Optical fiber 38 is used tocommunicatively couple the small cells 34(1)-34(P) to the communicationscontrol equipment 26 to facilitate distribution of small cellcommunications 28(1)-28(M) to the small cells 34(1)-34(P) and to receivereturn small cell communications from the small cells 34(1)-34(P) to bedistributed back to the small cell service providers 30(1)-30(M).Providing optical fiber 38 for distributed communications between thecommunications control equipment 26 and the small cells 34(1)-34(P) canreduce the risk of having to deploy new cabling if bandwidth needs forfuture small cell communication services exceeds conductive wiringcapabilities. The optical fiber 38 can also allow for higher distancecable runs to the small cells 34(1)-34(P) due to the lower loss ofoptical fiber, which can provide for enhanced centralization of thecommunications control equipment 26 in the unified optical fiber-basedDAS 24 for ease in installations and reconfigurations of small cellservice providers 30(1)-30(M) and centralized monitoring of the smallcell communications 28(1)-28(M).

In this embodiment, each small cell 34(1)-34(P) in the unified opticalfiber-based DAS 24 in FIG. 2 is communicatively coupled to thecommunications control equipment 26 through respective dedicated opticalfibers 38(1)-38(P). For example, using optical fiber 38(6) as anexample, two optical fibers may be employed to communicatively couple asmall cell 34(6) to the communications control equipment 26—one opticalfiber 38D(6) for downlink communications distributed to a small cell 34and one optical fiber 38U(6) for uplink communications received from asmall cell 34. Each small cell 34(1)-34(P) being communicatively coupledto a small cell communications 28(1)-28(M) via dedicated optical fibers38 keeps each small cell communications 28(1)-28(M) separated from eachother so that each small cell communications 28(1)-28(M) does not haveto share bandwidth of an optical fiber with any other small cellcommunications 28(1)-28(M). Providing dedicated optical fibers 38 foreach small cell 34(1)-34(P) can also facilitate enhanced datacommunications security between different small cell services28(1)-28(M), in that multiple small cell communication services 28 arenot carried on the same optical fibers 38. However, multiple small cellcommunications 28(1)-28(M) can be combined over a common optical fiber38 through use of multiplexing and switching if desired.

Alternatively, small cell communications 28(1)-28(M) from two or moresmall cell service providers 30(1)-30(M) can be routed through the sameoptical fiber 38. However, sharing small cell communications 28(1)-28(M)over shared optical fiber also shares the available bandwidth betweenthe small cell communications 28(1)-28(M). There may also be arequirement for the small cell service providers 30(1)-30(M) to notshare optical fiber 38 for providing small cell communications28(1)-28(M).

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the optical fibers 38(1)-38(P) maybe provided individually in cables or bundled together in sets orsubsets of the optical fibers 38(1)-38(P) in a common cable to bedistributed to connected respective sets or subsets of the small cells34(1)-34(P). For example, a common optical fiber cable containing aplurality of optical fibers 38 may be employed to service small cells 34in the same area 37.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the communications controlequipment 26 in this embodiment includes a plurality of media converters40(1)-40(Z) to support use of the optical fiber 38 for distribution ofsmall cell communications 28(1)-28(M) between the communications controlequipment 26 and the small cells 34(1)-34(P). Each media converter40(1)-40(Z) may be dedicated to perform media conversions for aparticular small cell 34(1)-34(P). For example, media converter 40(1)may be dedicated to perform media conversions for a particular smallcell 34(1), media converter 40(2) dedicated to perform media conversionsfor small cell 34(2), and so on. The media converters 40(1)-40(Z) areeach configured to convert the received small cell communications28(1)-28(M), received as electrical communications signals, to opticalsmall cell communications 28O(1)-28O(M) to be distributed to respectivesmall cells 34(1)-34(P). Likewise, the media converters 40(1)-40(Z) arealso configured to convert received return optical small cellcommunications 42O(1)-42O(P), as optical communications signals, fromrespective small cells 34(1)-34(P), to electrical small cellcommunications 42E(1)-42E(P), received as electrical communicationssignals, to be distributed back to the small cell service providers30(1)-30(M). For instance, taking small cell communications 28(1), 28(2)referenced above as an example, a media converter 40 among the mediaconverters 40(1)-40(Z) can convert electrical RRH communication servicesfrom small cell service provider 30(5) to optical RRH communicationservices to be routed to RRH small cell 34(5). A media converter 40among the media converters 40(1)-40(Z) is also configured to convertreturn optical communications from the RRH small cell 34(5) toelectrical RRH communications to be provided to small cell serviceprovider 30(5).

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the communications controlequipment 26 is also configured to interface with other wired networks.For example, in FIG. 2, the communications control equipment 26 is shownas communicatively interfacing with a wired network 44. Wired network 44may be another network in the same building or facility in which theunified optical fiber-based DAS 24 is deployed as a non-limitingexample. As will be discussed in more detail below, the communicationscontrol equipment 26 may have the capability of routing the small cellcommunications 28(1)-28(M) to the wired network 44 as opposed to or inaddition to the small cells 34(1)-34(P). Examples of the wired network44 could include, but are not limited to, switch-based local areanetwork (LAN), a passive optical LAN (POL), and a passive opticalnetwork (PON).

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the unified optical fiber-based DAS24 may optionally also be configured to distribute communications otherthan small cell communications to other devices in this example. Forexample, the communications control equipment 26 may also be configuredto distribute a plurality of non-small cell communications 46(1)-46(R)from a plurality of non-small cell service providers 48(1)-48(R), whereR is equal to the number of non-small cell service providers 48. Thenon-small cell communications 46(1)-46(R) may also be provided from anyof the small cell service providers 30(1)-30(M) that are able to provideboth small cell and non-small cell communications. A non-small cellcommunications is a communication for a cell, node, or othercommunications device that does not include a digital backhaul forwireless communications. For example, the non-small cell serviceproviders 48(1)-48(R) are illustrated in FIG. 2 as being configured toprovide non-small cell communications 46(1)-46(R) to non-small cells52(1)-52(S). The non-small cell communications 46(1)-46(R) could beprovided to remote antenna units communicatively coupled to thecommunications control equipment 26. In this manner, the communicationscontrol equipment 26 is provided and configured to be able to distributecommunications in a centralized manner for different types ofcommunications services, including small cell and non-small cellcommunications. Additional communications services not initiallysupported by the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24 can be latersupported by the communications control equipment 26 without having tochange cabling or distribution of already supported communicationsservices.

As an example, the communications control equipment 26 may be configuredwith analog DAS equipment to be able to distribute non-small cellcommunications 46(1)-46(R) to non-small cells 52(1)-52(S). The non-smallcell communications 46(1)-46(R) can also include wired communicationsservices, including without limitation, television services, telephonyservices, computer communications services, surveillance video services,radio frequency identification device (RFID) reader communicationsservices, and a near field communications (NFC) reader communicationsservices.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, to facilitate receiving theplurality of non-small cell communications 46(1)-46(R) from thenon-small cell service providers 48(1)-48(R), the communications controlequipment 26 in the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24 includes aplurality of communications interfaces 50(1)-50(R). The communicationsinterfaces 50(1)-50(R) are configured to receive the respectivenon-small cell communications 46(1)-46(R) from the respective non-smallcell service providers 48(1)-48(R). The communications control equipment26 is configured to distribute the non-small cell communications46(1)-46(R) to any of a designated plurality of non-small cell edgedevices 52(1)-52(S) (also referred to herein as “non-small cells52(1)-52(S)), where ‘S’ is the number of non-small cell edge devices.For example, any of the non-small cells 52(1)-52(S) could include aremote antenna unit configured to distribute non-small cellcommunications (e.g., cellular communications), if the non-small cellcommunications 46 to be distributed are non-small cell communications.The communications control equipment 26 also includes a plurality ofcommunications output ports 54(1)-54(S) coupled to the plurality ofnon-small cells 52(1)-52(S). The communications control equipment 26 isconfigured to route the non-small cell communications 46(1)-46(R)through designated or configured communications output ports 54(1)-54(S)to be distributed to the non-small cells 52(1)-52(S). The non-smallcells 52(1)-52(S) may be provided in remote locations in a building orother facility.

Optical fiber 38 is also used to communicatively couple the non-smallcells 52(1)-52(S) to the communications control equipment 26 tofacilitate distribution of non-small cell communications 46(1)-46(R) tothe non-small cells 52(1)-52(S) and to receive return non-small cellcommunications from the non-small cells 52(1)-52(S) to be distributedback to the non-small cell service providers 48(1)-48(R). In thisembodiment, each non-small cell 52(1)-52(S) in the unified opticalfiber-based DAS 24 in FIG. 2 is also communicatively coupled to thecommunications control equipment 26 through respective dedicated opticalfibers 56(1)-56(S). The optical fibers 56(1)-56(S) may be providedindividually in cables or bundled together in sets or subsets of theoptical fibers 56(1)-56(S) in a common cable to be distributed toconnected respective sets or subsets of the non-small cells 52(1)-52(S).For example, a common optical fiber cable containing a plurality ofoptical fibers 56 may be employed to services non-small cells 52 in thesame area.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the media converters 40(1)-40(Z)are also configured to support use of the optical fiber 56 fordistribution of non-small cell communications 46(1)-46(R) between thecommunications control equipment 26 and the non-small cells 52(1)-52(S).For example, certain media converters 40(1)-40(Z) may be dedicated toperform media conversions for the—small cells 52(1)-52(S). Certain mediaconverters 40(1)-40(Z) are configured to convert the received non-smallcell communications 46(1)-46(R), received as electrical communicationssignals, to optical non-small cell communications 46O(1)-46O(R) to bedistributed to respective non-small cells 52(1)-52(S). Likewise, certainmedia converters 40(1)-40(Z) are also configured to convert receivedreturn optical non-small cell communications 58O(1)-58O(S), as opticalcommunications signals, from certain non-small cells 52(1)-52(S), toelectrical non-small cell communications 58E(1)-58E(S), as electricalcommunications signals, to be distributed back to respective non-smallcell service providers 48(1)-48(R).

Different variations of the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24 in FIG. 2can be provided. In this regard, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of anexemplary unified optical fiber-based DAS 24(1) for supporting smallcell communications deployment from multiple small cell serviceproviders over separate optical fibers similar to the unified opticalfiber-based DAS 24 in FIG. 2. Common elements are shown with commonelement numbers between FIGS. 2 and 3, and thus will not bere-described. As will be discussed in more detail below, the unifiedoptical fiber-based DAS 24(1) in FIG. 3 includes a plurality of areadistributers 60(1)-60(T), wherein T is the number of area distributers.The area distributers 60(1)-60(T) are each configured to interfacesubsets of the small cells 34(1)-34(P) to the communications controlequipment 26(1). As a non-limiting example, the area distributers60(1)-60(T) are each configured to receive a respective multi-fibercable 62(1)-62(T) each comprised of a plurality of optical fibers 38 tocommunicatively couple the small cells 34(1)-34(P) to communicationscontrol equipment 26(1). The plurality of optical fibers 38 are brokenout with the area distributer 60(1)-60(T) from the respectivemulti-fiber cable 62(1)-62(T) to be connected to a small cell34(1)-34(P) serviced by the respective area distributer 60(1)-60(T).

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary area distributer 60 thatcan be provided in the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24(1) in FIG. 3for interfacing multiple small cells 34(1)-34(P) to the communicationscontrol equipment 26(1). As illustrated in FIG. 4, the area distributer60 receives a multi-fiber cable 62 in this example. The multi-fibercable 62 is comprised of individual, dedicated optical fibers 38 toprovide one or more small cell communications 28 to the small cells 34connected to the area distributer 60. In this non-limiting example,three (3) small cells 34(1)-34(3) are connected to the area distributer60 to be coupled one or more communications interfaces 32(1)-32(M) toreceive one or more small cell services 28 routed by the communicationscontrol equipment 26(1) (not shown) to the area distributer 60. The areadistributer 60 has a plurality of service input ports 64(1)-64(3)configured to receive a small cell communications 28. As an example, theplurality of communications input ports 64(1)-64(3) may be embedded in asingle connector. Three (3) local media converters 66(1)-66(3) areincluded in the area distributer 60 to convert the received opticalsmall cell communications 280 to electrical small cell communications28E to be provided over electrical conductors 68(1)-68(3), such ascopper conductors. The area distributer 60 includes communicationservice output ports 70(1)-70(3) configured to be connected to the smallcells 34(1)-34(3) to couple the electrical conductors 68(1)-68(3) of thearea distributer 60 to electrical conductor cables 72(1)-72(3)connecting the small cells 34(1)-34(3) to the communication serviceoutput ports 70(1)-70(3). For example, the electrical conductor cables72(1)-72(3) could be CAT 5, 6, or 7 cables each having multipleelectrical conductors capable of carrying communications and power tothe small cells 34(1)-34(3).

With continuing reference to FIG. 4, the area distributer 60 is alsoconfigured to distribute power to the connected small cells 34(1)-34(3).In this embodiment, the multi-fiber cable 62 also includes one or moreelectrical conductors 74 configured to provide power to a powering unit76. In this manner, the small cells 34(1)-34(3), which includepower-consuming components, can be powered through connection to thearea distributer 60, as opposed to being required to be powered throughanother source outside of the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24(1). Forexample, the small cells 34(1)-34(3) may be Power-over-Ethernet (PoE)devices that are configured to receive power from Ethernet portsprovided as the communication service output ports 70(1)-70(3). Thepowering unit 76 may also be capable of providing power managementcapabilities such as voltage regulation, power measurement, and overcurrent protection, as non-limiting examples.

The small cells 34(1)-34(3) could be powered through another sourceoutside of the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24(1). Further, the smallcells 34(1)-34(3) may be configured for reverse powering, whereby powerprovided to the small cells 34(1)-34(3) through another source outsideof the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24(1), could be provided over therespective electrical conductors 74 to be provided to powering unit 76,which could then provide the power to another small cell 34(1)-34(3)supported by the area distributer 60.

With reference back to FIG. 3, power supplied over the one or moreelectrical conductors (ICUs) 74(1)-74(T) of the area distributers60(1)-60(T) may be sourced from interconnect units 78(1), 78(2). TheICUs 78(1), 78(2) in this example are configured to route received power80(1), 80(2) to the electrical conductors 74(1)-74(T) to be provided tothe area distributers 60(1)-60(T) to be provided to the respective smallcells 34 connected to the area distributers 60(1)-60(T). The ICUs 78(1),78(2) also serve as a connection point for multi-fiber cables 82(1),82(2), which each comprise a plurality of the optical fibers 38configured to carry small-cell communications 28(1)-28(M) to the smallcells 34(1)-34(P) and to provide return communications from the smallcells 34(1)-34(P) to the small-cell service providers 30(1)-30(M). Theoptical fibers 38 provided in each multi-fiber cable 82(1), 82(2) can beconfigured according to the distribution of ICUs 78(1), 78(2) and thedistribution of small cells 34(1)-34(P) in the unified opticalfiber-based DAS 24(1). The optical fibers 38 provided in eachmulti-fiber cable 82(1), 82(2) are coupled to dedicated optical ports36(1)-36(P) and 54(1)-54(S) provided in the communications controlequipment 26, as shown in FIG. 2.

With continuing reference to FIG. 3, the communications controlequipment 26(1) in the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24(1) alsoincludes a plurality of switches 84(1)-84(M). The switches 84(1)-84(M)are each configured to route the small cells communications 28(1)-28(M)from their respective communications interface 32(1)-32(M) to thedesired communications output 36(1)-36(P), which are each connected to asmall cell 34 among the plurality of small cells 34(1)-34(P). Theswitches 84(1)-84(M) may each be configured to an aggregation of smallcells communications 28 or a single small cell communications 28. Theswitches 84(1)-84(M) each have a plurality of respective communicationsinput ports 86(1)-86(M) each configured to be coupled to a respectivecommunications interface 32(1)-32(M) to receive a respective aggregatedsmall cell communications 28(1)-28(M) from a respective small cellservice provider 30(1)-30(M) (not shown). Each switch 84(1)-84(M) isconfigured to separate a received small cell communications 28 intomultiple lines 88(1)-88(M) to be able to provide the received small cellcommunications 28 to multiple small cells 34. Each switch 84(1)-84(M) isalso configured to merge small-cell communications from the small cells34 communicatively coupled to the respective switch 84(1)-84(M) to beprovided to the small-cell communications service provider 30(1)-30(M)coupled to the respective switch 84(1)-84(M). In this example, eachswitch 84(1)-84(M) is configured to separate a received small cellcommunications 28 or aggregated small cell communications 28 into four(4) communications lines to be provided to up to four small cells 34.

With continuing reference to FIG. 3, a plurality of data processors90(1)-90(M) are also provided in the communications control equipment26(1). Each data processor 90(1)-90(M) is associated with a respectiveswitch 84(1)-84(M). The data processors 90(1)-90(M) are each coupled toa respective communications output port 36 associated with theirassociated switch 84, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Each data processor90(1)-90(M) is configured to analyze data communicated over therespective communications interfaces 32(1)-32(M). Each data processor90(1)-90(M) is also configured to insert and/or modify data communicatedover the respective communications interfaces 32(1)-32(M) depending onthe desired application.

With continuing reference to FIG. 3, each data processor 90(1)-90(M) isalso communicatively coupled to an application server 92 provided in thecommunications control equipment 26(1) in this example. In this manner,the application server 92 can provide centralized services for theunified optical fiber-based DAS 24(1). For example, if the applicationserver 92 desires to analyze data communicated over the respectivecommunications interfaces 32(1)-32(M), the application server 92 caninstruct the data processors 90(1)-90(M) to provide copies of thecommunicated data to the application server 92 to be analyzed. If theapplication server 92 desires to insert and/or modify data communicatedover the respective communications interfaces 32(1)-32(M) depending onthe desired application, the application server 92 can provide theinserted and/or modified data to the desired data processor 90(1)-90(M)to be inserted and/or modified in the respective small cellcommunications 28(1)-28(M) associated with the data processor90(1)-90(M). For example, the application server 92 may be also beconfigured to read an interference level indication provided in thesmall cell communications 28(1)-28(M) communicated over the respectivecommunications interfaces 32(1)-32(M) to be able to instruct other smallcells 34 among small cells 34(1)-34(P) to reduce power. The applicationserver 92 may also be configured to provide the small cellcommunications 28(1)-28(M) to the wired network 44, if desired. A singleapplication server 92 may be provided to provide application servicesfor all data processors 90(1)-90(M). Alternatively, more than oneapplication server 92 may be provided, such as a dedicated applicationserver 92 for each data processor 90(1)-90(M) as one non-limitingexample.

With continuing reference to FIG. 3, as previously discussed above withregard to the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24 in FIG. 2, thecommunications control equipment 26(1) may also be configured to supportnon-small cell communications. In this regard, the communicationscontrol equipment 26(1) may also include a cellular communicationsservice head end unit (HEU) 94. The HEU 94 is configured to distributethe non-small cell communications 46(1)-46(R) to remote antenna units orother cellular devices that may be coupled to an area distributer60(1)-60(T) in place of a small cell 34 illustrated in FIG. 3. Moreinformation of an exemplary DAS that includes a HEU that may be employedas the HEU 94 in FIG. 3 is described in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2011/0268446 entitled “Providing Digital Data Servicesin Optical Fiber-based Distributed Radio Frequency (RF) CommunicationsSystems, And Related Components and Methods,” which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

The unified optical fiber-based DAS 24(1) in FIG. 3 is capable ofdistributing different small cell communications 28 from different smallcell service providers 30 to small cells 34. In this regard, FIGS. 5Aand 5B provide a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process fordistributing different small cell communications 28 from multiple smallcell service providers 30 over separate optical fibers 38 in the unifiedoptical fiber-based DAS 24(1) in FIG. 3. In this regard, thecommunications control equipment 26 is configured to receive a firstsmall cell communications 28(1) from a first small cell service provider30(1) on at least one first small cell communications interface 32(1)(block 100 in FIG. 5A). The communications control equipment 26 is alsoconfigured to receive a second small cell communications 28(2) from asecond small cell service provider 30(2) on at least one second smallcell communications interface 32(2) (block 102 in FIG. 5A). The secondsmall cell communications 28(2) is different from the first small cellcommunications 28(1). The communications control equipment 26 isconfigured to provide the first small cell communications 28(1) and thesecond small cell communications 28(2) to respective switches 84(1),84(2) (block 104 in FIG. 5A). The switches 84(1), 84(2) are configuredto route the first small cell communications 28(1) and the second smallcell communications 28(2) to respective communications output ports 36(block 106 in FIG. 5A). The media converter 40(1) receives the firstsmall cell communications 28(1). Another media converter 40(2) receivesthe second small cell communications 28(2) from the respectivecommunications output port 36 (block 108 in FIG. 5A).

The media converters 40(1), 40(2) each convert the received plurality ofelectrical small cell communications 28E to a plurality of optical smallcell communications 28O, the plurality of optical small cellcommunications 28O comprising a first optical small cell communications28O(1) and a second optical small cell communications 28O(2) (block 110in FIG. 5B). The first optical small cell communications 28O(1) isrouted over at least one first dedicated optical fiber 38 among aplurality of optical fibers 38(1)-38(P) to at least one first small cell34(1) (block 112 in FIG. 5B). The second optical small cellcommunications 28O(2) is routed over at least one second dedicatedoptical fiber 38(2) among the plurality of optical fibers 38(1)-38(P) toat least one second small cell 34(2) (block 114 in FIG. 5B).

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary unified opticalfiber-based DAS 24(2) for supporting small cell communicationsdeployment from multiple small cell service providers over separateoptical fibers directly to the small cells via edge device interfaces.The unified optical fiber-based DAS 24(2) is similar to the unifiedoptical fiber-based DAS 24(1) in FIG. 3. Common components are indicatedby common element numbers between the unified optical fiber-based DAS24(2) in FIG. 6 and the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24(1) in FIG. 3,and thus will not be re-described. However, in the unified opticalfiber-based DAS 24(2) in FIG. 6, the multi-fiber cables 82(1), 82(2) arerouted through the ICUs 78(1), 78(2) to edge device interfaces120(1)-120(P) directly to each small cell 34(1)-34(P). The edge deviceinterfaces 120(1)-120(P) enable separation of the composite cables122(1)-122(P), each comprising an optical fiber 38 for communicationsand an electrical conductor 74 for carrying power. The edge deviceinterfaces 120(1)-120(P) in this embodiment are each only configured tosupport one small cell 34(1)-34(P), unlike the area distributers 60illustrated in FIG. 3, which are configured to support multiple smallcells 34.

In this regard, FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary edgedevice interface 120 interfacing a small cell 34 to a small cellcommunications 28 in the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24(2) in FIG.6. FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram of the exemplary edge device interface120 in FIG. 7A interfacing the small cell 34 to a small cellcommunications 28 in the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24(2) in FIG.6. With reference to FIG. 7A, a composite cable 122 is shown extendingto the edge device interface 120. The composite cable 122 is comprisedof one or more optical fibers 38 for communication services and anelectrical conductor 74 for carrying power for providing power to thesmall cell 34 connected to the edge device interface 120. The opticalfibers 38 are provided to a local media converter 124 that is configuredto convert the optical small cell communications 28O to an electricalsmall cell communications 28E over electrical communications line 125 aspreviously described. The local media converter 124 is also configuredto convert return electrical small cell communications from the smallcell 34 to optical small cell communications to be provided to thecommunications control equipment 26(1). The electrical conductor 74 isprovided to a powering unit 126 that is configured to direct power 80 tothe local media converter 124 over power line 128 for operation. Thepowering unit 126 is also configured to provide power 80 over power line130 to a communications output port 132. The communications output port131 is configured to couple the electrical communications line 125 andthe power line 130 to an electrical conductor cable 72 connected to thesmall cell 34. For example, the electrical conductor cable 72 could be aCAT 5, 6, or 7 cable. The powering unit 126 may also be capable ofproviding power management capabilities such as voltage regulation,power measurement, and over current protection, as non-limitingexamples.

With reference to FIG. 7B, the edge device interface 120 may beimplemented inside a connector enclosure 123, which is mounted on theend portion 125 of the composite cable 122. This exemplaryimplementation of the edge device interface 120 may eliminate the needfor the electrical cable 72, since the edge device interface 120 isembedded in the connector 120 connected directly to a small cell 34.

The unified optical fiber-based DAS disclosed herein may be employed todistribute communications received from other networks and also toprovide data received from the small cells 34(1)-34(P) to othernetworks). For example, FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram illustratingconcurrent use of a network for a unified optical fiber-based DAS 24(3)for supporting small cell communications deployment from multiple smallcell service providers over separate optical fibers and a traditionalswitch-based local area network (LAN) 132. A core switch 133 is providedthat can provide switched communication services between the unifiedoptical fiber-based DAS 24(3) and the traditional switch-based LAN 132.The core switch 133 is configured to provide communication services froma router 134 that is coupled to an enterprise network 135 and theInternet 136 as examples. The core switch 133 may provide switchcommunications to optical fibers 138(1), 138(2) to work group switches140(1), 140(2), respectively, to provide the communications to end userterminals 142(1), 142(2), respectively. The core switch 133 is alsoconfigured to provide communication services from the router 134 over anoptical fiber cable 144 to enterprise switches 146 in the unifiedoptical fiber-based DAS 24(3).

FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram illustrating concurrent use of a networkfor a unified optical fiber-based DAS 24(4) for supporting small cellcommunications deployment from multiple small cell service providersover separate optical fibers and a passive optical network (PON) 150. Anoptical line terminal (OLT) 152 is provided that can providecommunication services between the unified optical fiber-based DAS 24(4)and the PON 150. The OLT 152 is configured to provide communicationservices from the router 134 that is coupled to the enterprise network135 and the Internet 136 as examples. The core switch 133 may provideswitch communications to optical fibers 154(1), 154(2) to opticalsplitters 156(1), 156(2), respectively, to provide the communications tooptical network terminals (ONTs) 158(1), 158(2), respectively. The OLT152 is also configured to provide communication services from the router134 over the optical fiber cable 144 to enterprise switches 146 in theunified optical fiber-based DAS 24(4).

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram representation of additional detailillustrating components that could be employed in any of the componentsor devices disclosed herein or in the optical fiber-based DASs describedherein, if adapted to execute instructions from an exemplarycomputer-readable medium to perform any of the functions or processingdescribed herein. In this regard, such component or device may include acomputer system 160 within which a set of instructions for performingany one or more of the location services discussed herein may beexecuted. The computer system 160 may be connected (e.g., networked) toother machines in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet.While only a single device is illustrated, the term “device” shall alsobe taken to include any collection of devices that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein. The computer system160 may be a circuit or circuits included in an electronic board card,such as, a printed circuit board (PCB), a server, a personal computer, adesktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA),a computing pad, a mobile device, or any other device, and mayrepresent, for example, a server or a user's computer.

The exemplary computer system 160 in this embodiment includes aprocessing device or processor 162, a main memory 164 (e.g., read-onlymemory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), such assynchronous DRAM (SDRAM), etc.), and a static memory 166 (e.g., flashmemory, static random access memory (SRAM), etc.), which may communicatewith each other via a data bus 168. Alternatively, the processing device162 may be connected to the main memory 164 and/or static memory 166directly or via some other connectivity means. The processing device 162may be a controller, and the main memory 164 or static memory 166 may beany type of memory.

The processing device 162 represents one or more general-purposeprocessing devices, such as a microprocessor, central processing unit,or the like. More particularly, the processing device 162 may be acomplex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, a reducedinstruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instructionword (VLIW) microprocessor, a processor implementing other instructionsets, or other processors implementing a combination of instructionsets. The processing device 162 is configured to execute processinglogic in instructions 170 for performing the operations and stepsdiscussed herein.

The computer system 160 may further include a network interface device172. The computer system 160 also may or may not include an input 174,configured to receive input and selections to be communicated to thecomputer system 160 when executing instructions. The computer system 160also may or may not include an output 176, including but not limited toa display, a video display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) ora cathode ray tube (CRT)), an alphanumeric input device (e.g., akeyboard), and/or a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse).

The computer system 160 may or may not include a data storage devicethat includes instructions 178 stored in a computer-readable medium 180.The instructions 178 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 164 and/or within the processing device 162during execution thereof by the computer system 160, the main memory 164and the processing device 162 also constituting computer-readablemedium. The instructions 178 may further be transmitted or received overa network 182 via the network interface device 172.

While the computer-readable medium 180 is shown in an exemplaryembodiment to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium”should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches andservers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any mediumthat is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructionsfor execution by the processing device and that cause the processingdevice to perform any one or more of the methodologies of theembodiments disclosed herein. The term “computer-readable medium” shallaccordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-statememories, optical and magnetic medium, and carrier wave signals.

The embodiments disclosed herein include various steps. The steps of theembodiments disclosed herein may be formed by hardware components or maybe embodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be used tocause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with theinstructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, the stes may beperformed by a combination of hardware and software.

The embodiments disclosed herein may be provided as a computer programproduct, or software, that may include a machine-readable medium (orcomputer-readable medium) having stored thereon instructions, which maybe used to program a computer system (or other electronic devices) toperform a process according to the embodiments disclosed herein. Amachine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing ortransmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer). For example, a machine-readable medium includes: amachine-readable storage medium (e.g., ROM, random access memory(“RAM”), a magnetic disk storage medium, an optical storage medium,flash memory devices, etc.); a machine-readable transmission medium(electrical, optical, acoustical, or other form of propagated signals(e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.)); and thelike.

Unless specifically stated otherwise and as apparent from the previousdiscussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description,discussions utilizing terms such as “processing,” “computing,”“determining,” “displaying,” or the like, refer to the action andprocesses of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device,that manipulates and transforms data and memories represented asphysical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registersinto other data similarly represented as physical quantities within thecomputer system memories or registers or other such information storage,transmission, or display devices.

The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently relatedto any particular computer or other apparatus. Various systems may beused with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it mayprove convenient to construct more specialized apparatuses to performthe required method steps. The required structure for a variety of thesesystems will appear from the description above. In addition, theembodiments described herein are not described with reference to anyparticular programming language. It will be appreciated that a varietyof programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of theembodiments as described herein.

Those of skill in the art will further appreciate that the variousillustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithms describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedas electronic hardware, instructions stored in memory or in anothercomputer-readable medium and executed by a processor or other processingdevice, or combinations of both. The components of the distributedantenna systems described herein may be employed in any circuit,hardware component, integrated circuit (IC), or IC chip, as examples.Memory disclosed herein may be any type and size of memory and may beconfigured to store any type of information desired. To clearlyillustrate this interchangeability, various illustrative components,blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generallyin terms of their functionality. How such functionality is implementeddepends on the particular application, design choices, and/or designconstraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans mayimplement the described functionality in varying ways for eachparticular application, but such implementation decisions should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the presentembodiments.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field ProgrammableGate Array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, a discrete gateor transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Furthermore,a controller may be a processor. A processor may be a microprocessor,but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration).

The embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in hardware and ininstructions that are stored in hardware, and may reside, for example,in RAM, flash memory, ROM, Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM),Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, a hard disk,a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readablemedium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to theprocessor such that the processor can read information from, and writeinformation to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storagemedium may be integral to the processor.

The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC mayreside in a remote station. In the alternative, the processor and thestorage medium may reside as discrete components in a remote station,base station, or server.

It is also noted that the operational steps described in any of theexemplary embodiments herein are described to provide examples anddiscussion. The operations described may be performed in numerousdifferent sequences other than the illustrated sequences. Furthermore,operations described in a single operational step may actually beperformed in a number of different steps. Additionally, one or moreoperational steps discussed in the exemplary embodiments may becombined. Those of skill in the art will also understand thatinformation and signals may be represented using any of a variety oftechnologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands,information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips, that may be referencesthroughout the above description, may be represented by voltages,currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields, or particles, opticalfields or particles, or any combination thereof.

Further and as used herein, it is intended that terms “fiber opticcables” and/or “optical fibers” include all types of single mode andmulti-mode light waveguides, including one or more optical fibers thatmay be upcoated, colored, buffered, ribbonized, and/or have otherorganizing or protective structure in a cable such as one or more tubes,strength members, jackets, or the like.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that anymethod set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps beperformed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim doesnot actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is nototherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that thesteps are to be limited to a specific order, it is no way intended thatany particular order be inferred.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Since modifications combinations,sub-combinations and variations of the disclosed embodimentsincorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur topersons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to includeeverything within the scope of the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical fiber-based distributed antenna system(DAS) for supporting small cell communications from different small cellservice providers, comprising: a plurality of edge devices eachconfigured to receive electrical communications from a network, theplurality of edge devices comprising: at least one first small cellconfigured to receive a first electrical small cell communications; atleast one second small cell configured to receive a second electricalsmall cell communications different from the first electrical small cellcommunications; a communications control equipment, comprising: aplurality of communications interfaces each configured to receiveelectrical communications, the plurality of communications interfacescomprising: at least one first small cell communications interfaceconfigured to receive a first small cell communications from a firstsmall cell service provider; and at least one second small cellcommunications interface configured to receive a second small cellcommunications from a second small cell service provider; a plurality ofswitches comprising a plurality of communications output ports and aplurality of communications input ports, the plurality of communicationsinput ports each configured to be coupled to a communications interfaceamong the plurality of communications interfaces; each of the pluralityof switches configured to route an electrical communications among aplurality of electrical communications, received on a communicationsinput port among the plurality of communications input ports, to atleast two communications output ports among the plurality ofcommunications output ports: a plurality of media converters,comprising: a first media converter configured to: receive a firstelectrical communications from at least one communications output portof the plurality of switches; convert the received first electricalcommunications to a first optical communications comprising a firstoptical small cell communications; and route the first optical smallcell communications over at least one first dedicated optical fiberamong a plurality of optical fibers to the at least one first smallcell; and a second media converter configured to: receive a secondelectrical communications from a second communications output port ofthe plurality of switches; convert the received second electricalcommunications to a second optical communications comprising a secondoptical small cell communications; and route the second optical smallcell communications over at least one second dedicated optical fiberamong a plurality of optical fibers to the at least one second smallcell; and at least one area distributer comprising: a plurality ofcommunications input ports configured to receive optical communicationsfrom a media converter among the plurality of media converters for asubset of edge devices among the plurality of edge devices; at least onelocal media converter configured to convert the received opticalcommunications to electrical communications; and a plurality ofcommunications output ports configured to provide the receivedelectrical communications to the subset of edge devices.
 2. The DAS ofclaim 1, wherein the communications control equipment further comprisesat least one data processor coupled to at least one switch among theplurality of switches, the at least one data processor configured tomonitor data communications of the electrical communications routed bythe at least one switch.
 3. The DAS of claim 2, wherein the at least onedata processor is further configured to insert data in the electricalcommunications routed by the at least one switch.
 4. The DAS of claim 2,further comprising at least one application server communicativelycoupled to the at least one data processor.
 5. The DAS of claim 4,wherein the at least one application server is configured to communicatewith the at least one data processor to monitor data in the plurality ofelectrical communications routed by the at least one switch coupled tothe at least one data processor.
 6. The DAS of claim 4, wherein the atleast one application server is configured to communicate a datainsertion message to the at least one data processor to insert data inthe electrical communications routed by the at least one switch coupledto the at least one data processor.
 7. The DAS of claim 4, wherein theat least one application server is configured to: receive from the atleast one data processor, the plurality of electrical communicationsrouted by the at least one switch coupled to the at least one dataprocessor; and communicate the received plurality of electricalcommunications to at least one other wired network.
 8. The DAS of claim7, wherein the at least one other wired network is comprised of anetwork comprised from the group consisting of a switch-based local areanetwork (LAN), a passive optical LAN (POL), and a passive opticalnetwork (PON).
 9. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the at least one areadistributer further comprises a powering unit configured to supply powerover the plurality of communications output ports to the subset of edgedevices to provide power to the subset of edge devices.
 10. The DAS ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of edge devices furthercomprises an edge device interface comprising: a communications inputport configured to receive optical communications from a media converteramong the plurality of media converters for the at least one of theplurality of edge devices; at least one local media converter configuredto convert the received optical communications to electricalcommunications; and a communications output port configured to providethe received electrical communications to the at least one of theplurality of edge devices.
 11. The DAS of claim 1, wherein at least oneof the at least one first dedicated optical fiber and the at least onesecond dedicated optical fiber is disposed in a multi-fiber cable. 12.The DAS of claim 11, wherein the multi-fiber cable further comprises atleast one electrical conductor configured to carry power to at least oneof the at least one first small cell and the at least one second smallcell.
 13. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the at least one first dedicatedoptical fiber and the at least one second dedicated optical fiber aredisposed in a same multi-fiber cable.
 14. The DAS of claim 1, wherein:the at least one first small cell is comprised of a small cell comprisedfrom the group consisting of a cellular service small cell, a WirelessFidelity (WiFi) access point, an extremely high frequency (EFH) radiodevice, a digital DAS cell, a remote radio head (RRH), a location radionodes, a wireless reader, and an application-specific radio node; andthe at least one second small cell is comprised of a small celldifferent from the at least one first small cell, the at least onesecond small cell is comprised from the group consisting of a cellularservice small cell, a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) access point, anextremely high frequency (EFH) radio device, a digital DAS cell, aremote radio head (RRH), a location radio nodes, a wireless reader, andan application-specific radio node.
 15. An optical fiber-baseddistributed antenna system (DAS) for supporting small cellcommunications from different small cell service providers, comprising:a plurality of edge devices each configured to receive electricalcommunications from a network, the plurality of edge devices comprising:at least one first small cell configured to receive a first electricalsmall cell communications; at least one second small cell configured toreceive a second electrical small cell communications different from thefirst electrical small cell communications; and a communications controlequipment, comprising: a plurality of communications interfaces eachconfigured to receive electrical communications, the plurality ofcommunications interfaces comprising: at least one first small cellcommunications interface configured to receive a first small cellcommunications from a first small cell service provider; and at leastone second small cell communications interface configured to receive asecond small cell communications from a second small cell serviceprovider a plurality of switches comprising a plurality ofcommunications output ports and a plurality of communications inputports, the plurality of communications input ports each configured to becoupled to a communications interface among the plurality ofcommunications interfaces; each of the plurality of switches configuredto route an electrical communications among a plurality of electricalcommunications, received on a communications input port among theplurality of communications input ports, to at least two communicationsoutput ports among the plurality of communications output ports; aplurality of media converters, comprising: a first media converterconfigured to: receive a first electrical communications from at leastone communications output port of the plurality of switches; convert thereceived first electrical communications to a first opticalcommunications comprising a first optical small cell communications; androute the first optical small cell communications over at least onefirst dedicated optical fiber among a plurality of optical fibers to theat least one first small cell; and a second media converter configuredto: receive a second electrical communications from a secondcommunications output port of the plurality of switches; convert thereceived second electrical communications to a second opticalcommunications comprising a second optical small cell communications;and route the second optical small cell communications over at least onesecond dedicated optical fiber among a plurality of optical fibers tothe at least one second small cell, wherein: the plurality of edgedevices further comprises: at least one non-small cell edge deviceconfigured to receive a non-small cell optical communications; theplurality of communications interfaces further comprises: at least onenon-small cell communications interface configured to receive at leastone non-small cell communications from at least one non-small cellservice provider; and a third media converter among the plurality ofmedia converters configured to: convert the received at least onenon-small cell communications to at least one optical non-small cellcommunications; and route the at least one optical non-small cellcommunications over at least one dedicated optical fiber among theplurality of optical fibers to the at least one non-small cell edgedevice.
 16. The DAS of claim 15, wherein the communications controlequipment further comprises analog DAS equipment comprising the at leastone non-small cell communications interface.
 17. The DAS of claim 15,wherein the at least one non-small cell communications is comprised ofat least one wired communications.
 18. The DAS of claim 17, wherein theat least one wired communications is comprised from the group consistingof a television service, a telephony service, a computer communications,a surveillance video service, a radio frequency identification device(RFID) reader communications, and a near field communications (NFC)reader communications.
 19. A method of distributing small cellcommunications from different small cell service providers in an opticalfiber-based distributed antenna system (DAS), comprising: receiving aplurality of electrical communications over a plurality ofcommunications interfaces from a plurality of communications serviceproviders, comprising: receiving a first small cell communications froma first small cell service provider on at least one first small cellcommunications interface; and receiving a second small cellcommunications from a second small cell service provider on at least onesecond small cell communications interface, the second small cellcommunications different from the first small cell communications;providing each of the plurality of electrical communications to at leastone communications port in at least one switch among a plurality ofswitches, each switch among the plurality of switches coupled to atleast one communications interface among the plurality of communicationsinterfaces; routing each of the plurality of electrical communicationsreceived on a plurality of communications input ports to at least twocommunications output ports among a plurality of communications outputports in the plurality of switches; receiving in a plurality of mediaconverters, the plurality of electrical communications from theplurality of communications output ports of the plurality of switches;converting in the plurality of media converters, the received pluralityof electrical communications to a plurality of optical communications,the plurality of optical communications comprising a first optical smallcell communications and a second optical small cell communications;routing the first optical small cell communications over at least onefirst dedicated optical fiber among a plurality of optical fibers to atleast one first small cell; routing the second optical small cellcommunications over at least one second dedicated optical fiber amongthe plurality of optical fibers to at least one second small cell;receiving at least one non-small cell communications from at least oneedge device among a plurality of edge devices in the at least one mediaconverter; converting the received at least one non-small cellcommunications to at least one optical non-small cell communications;and routing the at least one optical non-small cell communications overat least one dedicated optical fiber among a plurality of optical fibersto at least one non-small cell edge device.
 20. The method of claim 19,further comprising monitoring data communications of the plurality ofelectrical communications routed by the at least one switch in at leastone data processor coupled to the at least one switch among theplurality of switches.
 21. The method of claim 20, further comprisingthe at least one data processor inserting data in the plurality ofelectrical communications routed by at least one switch coupled to theat least one data processor.
 22. The method of claim 20, furthercomprising at least one application server configured to communicate adata insertion message to the at least one data processor to insert datain the plurality of electrical communications routed by the at least oneswitch coupled to the at least one data processor.
 23. The method ofclaim 20, further comprising: receiving from the at least one dataprocessor, at least one electrical communications among the plurality ofelectrical communications routed by at least one switch; andcommunicating the received at least one electrical communications to atleast one other wired network.
 24. The method of claim 20, wherein atleast one of a plurality of edge devices further comprises an edgedevice interface comprising: receiving an optical service from a mediaconverter of the plurality of media converters over a communicationsinput port of an edge device; at least one local media converterconfigured to convert in a local media converter in the edge device, thereceived optical communications to an electrical communications; andproviding the received electrical communications to a communicationsoutput port of the edge device.
 25. A method of distributing small cellcommunications from different small cell service providers in an opticalfiber-based distributed antenna system (DAS), comprising: receiving aplurality of electrical communications over a plurality ofcommunications interfaces from a plurality of communications serviceproviders, comprising: receiving a first small cell communications froma first small cell service provider on at least one first small cellcommunications interface; and receiving a second small cellcommunications from a second small cell service provider on at least onesecond small cell communications interface, the second small cellcommunications different from the first small cell communications;providing each of the plurality of electrical communications to at leastone communications port in at least one switch among a plurality ofswitches, each switch among the plurality of switches coupled to atleast one communications interface among the plurality of communicationsinterfaces; routing each of the plurality of electrical communicationsreceived on a plurality of communications input ports to at least twocommunications output ports among a plurality of communications outputports in the plurality of switches; receiving in a plurality of mediaconverters, the plurality of electrical communications from theplurality of communications output ports of the plurality of switches;converting in the plurality of media converters, the received pluralityof electrical communications to a plurality of optical communications,the plurality of optical communications comprising a first optical smallcell communications and a second optical small cell communications;routing the first optical small cell communications over at least onefirst dedicated optical fiber among a plurality of optical fibers to atleast one first small cell; routing the second optical small cellcommunications over at least one second dedicated optical fiber amongthe plurality of optical fibers to at least one second small cell;monitoring data communications of the plurality of electricalcommunications routed by the at least one switch in at least one dataprocessor coupled to the at least one switch among the plurality ofswitches; receiving the plurality of optical communications from theplurality of media converters on a plurality of communications inputports in an area distributer communicatively coupled to a subset of edgedevices among a plurality of edge devices; converting the receivedplurality of optical communications to electrical communications in atleast one local media converter in the area distributer; and providingthe received electrical communications to the plurality ofcommunications output ports coupled to the subset of edge devices. 26.The method of claim 25, further comprising providing power from apowering unit in the area distributer over the plurality ofcommunications output ports to the subset of edge devices to supplypower to the subset of edge devices.